Allegorie op de verschrikkingen van de Franse revolutie c. 1793 - 1795

This engraving, "Allegorie op de verschrikkingen van de Franse revolutie" visualizes the horrors of the French Revolution through potent symbols. Note the bare trees, emblems of death and decay, framing a scene of destruction. A figure, perhaps representing a revolutionary leader, stands with a stick that burns the terrestrial globe, a symbol of worldly power and order. Consider the globe in light of similar images across time; globes often signify dominion and knowledge. Yet here, it is consumed by flames, mirroring the revolutionary fervor that upturned the existing world order. This act of destruction, this "furor," is not just political; it speaks to primal urges – a collective, subconscious desire to obliterate the past and build anew. But destruction, as history shows, often begets more destruction. The burning globe is a powerful image. A primal act that embodies the revolutionary spirit that, like a phoenix, is constantly dying and being reborn. The cyclical nature of these symbols invites reflection on the persistent echoes of revolution throughout human history.